Former Senator Bello Mandiya reportedly died after slipping and hitting his head in the bathroom of his Abuja residence, with his body remaining undiscovered for about 72 hours before neighbours raised the alarm.
Senator Abdul Ningi, who represents Bauchi Central Senatorial District, recounted the circumstances surrounding Mandiya’s death during Senate plenary on Tuesday, October 13, 2026. His account later circulated widely on social media.
According to Ningi, Mandiya was last seen by a colleague at about 11am on Friday, September 4, 2026, before returning to his residence, where he lived alone.
The former lawmaker was reportedly preparing to attend Friday congregational prayers when he went into the bathroom to bathe. Ningi explained that Mandiya placed his cap and phones on his bed before entering the bathroom.
“He brought out his cap, his phones, and put them on the bed, and went into the bathroom to take his bath,” Ningi said.
He added that the former senator reportedly slipped after bathing and struck his head.
“After taking his bath, when he was out of the bathroom, then he slipped and knocked his head in the bathroom,” Ningi recounted.
Because Mandiya lived alone, nobody immediately realised that he had suffered an accident. His absence from his usual activities went unnoticed until concerns began to grow over the following days.
Ningi explained that the chief imam of Apo became worried after Mandiya failed to attend prayers for three consecutive days. The situation became more concerning when a foul smell reportedly began coming from the former senator’s apartment.
Residents eventually went to investigate and forced the door open, discovering Mandiya’s lifeless body in the bathroom on Monday, September 7, approximately three days after he was last seen.
“For 72 hours, Mr President, nobody knew where Bello Mandiya was,” Ningi told the Senate.
The Bauchi senator disclosed that he was in Saudi Arabia when his son called to inform him of Mandiya’s death. His son was among those who discovered the former lawmaker’s body.
Reflecting on the tragedy, Ningi said the incident demonstrated the uncertainty of life, stressing that neither political office nor material wealth could guarantee permanence.
“There is nothing permanent about anything. Nothing permanent about our position, nothing permanent about our wealth,” he said.
Ningi, who said he had known Mandiya since 2002, offered prayers for the deceased and extended his condolences to his family, the people of Katsina State and his former constituents.
Mandiya died at the age of 62. He represented Katsina South Senatorial District in the Ninth National Assembly from 2019 to 2023 under the platform of the All Progressives Congress.
Before entering the Senate, he served as chief of staff to former Katsina State Governor Aminu Bello Masari. During his time in the National Assembly, he also chaired the Senate Committee on Water Resources.
His death was announced by the Katsina State Government on September 7, 2026, with Governor Dikko Radda describing his passing as a significant loss to the state and the country.
The circumstances surrounding Mandiya’s death have renewed conversations about the vulnerability of people who live alone and the importance of maintaining regular contact with family members, friends and neighbours.
His death also serves as a sobering reminder of the unpredictability of life, a point Ningi emphasised while reflecting on the loss of his former colleague.
